Worried

Quietgirl

Hi There,

I am a new driver, past my test a month ago. I like to think I am a careful driver. I am 35 so not a young girl racer.

On sunday, I went on the motorway for the first time. I took my daughter to the seaside. On the way home, I was on the slip road to join the motorway, I was indicating to pull out onto the motorway. However, it was busy and this lorry would not move into the next lane to let me in. In the end I ended up running out of road. In my mind I thought well I can't stop, and then join the motorway, I can't pull out as that would cause and accident. So instead, I foolishly went onto the hard shoulder, accelorated and pulled out in front of this lorry. Perhaps I should have stopped on the hard shoulder instead. I don't know, unfortunately being a new driver I have yet to get the experience in how to deal with this sort of situation.

Now I am worried if there was CCTV on the motorway, or if there was a police car around that I might get a letter to prosecute me for this.

What should I have done ?

in2deep_2

Im sure even if there was cctv it would have been obvious why you did what you did.
If your in that situation and cant join the motorway safely just slow down or stop if you have to, a slip road is almost like a T junction and sometimes you just have to wait your turn.

Don't get worried about it just go back out there.

ohreally

Quietgirl wrote: »

In my mind I thought well I can't stop, and then join the motorway

If necessary you stop at the slip road until it's safe to enter the nearside lane.

anewman

gardner1 wrote: »

are you sure you passed your test , hard shoulder is for emergancies only not dopey drivers

There's no need for comments like that. You went up a sliproad and joined a motorway for the first time once too remember, probably 50 years ago though.

I have had the lorry problem once not long after I passed my test, I braked and slotted in behind the lorry.

In cases where you use the hard shoulder I think it's considered best practice to build up speed on it and use it like a slip road and slot in with the traffic (rather than pulling out into the motorway at 5mph with everything coming towards you at 70mph).

You took the safest option you felt was possible at that time. I feel your anticipation of traffic will improve as you gain driving experience. You don't have to speed up on the slip road, you need to adjust your speed to take into account where you are going to slot in and to try have a similar pace to the traffic on the motorway.

If you want to post this on https://www.2pass.co.uk forums there'll be numerous understanding ears and helpful replies there from people in similar circumstances to you.

Don't let this put you off motorways, they are good when everything works as it should. It can be helpful to go on motorways with someone with a bit of driving experience under their belts.

The lorry drivers won't like me saying but they do tend to be a little inconsiderate of other road users IMO.

ohreally wrote: »

If necessary you stop at the slip road until it's safe to enter the nearside lane.

Usually not necessary unless traffic is at a crawl on the motorway.

elsien

What you did is exactly what I'd have done when I first passed my test - I always used the inside lane on the grounds that the hard shoulder would be there if all else failed. It's just a confidence thing, that's all, don't worry about it.
Like in2deep says, maybe next time, slow down a bit and drop behind the lorry, but as far as CCTV goes, I really wouldn't fret.
Ignore the smart alec comments, there's always one.:rolleyes:

M4RKM

i drive a lot, and see people use the hard shoulder for making phone calls.. hmmm.. its not intended in that...

when pulling onto the motorway, sometimes the trucks can't pull out, and sometimes they can't see... you should get to a decent speed, and be looking to pull out, if there is something there, you slow down, and filter in behind them, if there is nothing, you keep going at your speed, and pull out safely...

it is a giveway, you don't have right of way, and traffic on the motorway has right of way... if you have to slow down, or crawl, thats what you have to do!

M

gardner1

markymoo wrote: »

i drive a lot, and see people use the hard shoulder for making phone calls.. hmmm.. its not intended in that...

when pulling onto the motorway, sometimes the trucks can't pull out, and sometimes they can't see... you should get to a decent speed, and be looking to pull out, if there is something there, you slow down, and filter in behind them, if there is nothing, you keep going at your speed, and pull out safely...

it is a giveway, you don't have right of way, and traffic on the motorway has right of way... if you have to slow down, or crawl, thats what you have to do!

M

at least one person knows how to drive

she_grinch

Well done you for being brave enough to go on the motorway, I passed a year ago and still haven't plucked up the courage!!

Conor_3

anewman wrote: »

The lorry drivers won't like me saying but they do tend to be a little inconsiderate of other road users IMO.

Why, because when the lorry had the right of way, it didn't move over to L2 which it may have not been able to do because a car was at the side of it or it would have meant carving up someone already in L2?

As for inconsideration, you wanna spend a day out in a lorry and then you'll see just exactly who is on the receiving end of the most inconsideration. Hell, you lot manage to be inconsiderate even when you're parked.

Keith

Do you use the pavement when you can't exit a junction? No?

You should slow down and take the next available gap in the traffic, the slip road is long so if it is possible to join early you do so, if you can't you proceed along whilst slowing down to allow for a break in traffic, if one does not appear then you stop.

If you proceed on to the hard shoulder you are breaking the law, and also take the risk that you'll hit someone who has broken down or stopped because of an emergency, wait until you've stopped once on their and heard the noise from the rumble strips.

Perhaps another read of the Highway Code is needed before you head out again as if you are using an emergency lane, you may be ignoring a number of other laws

banger9365

hay conor that not faire on a new driver,we hgv drivers should be explaining to the car drivers the safe and right way to drive,and show them what they did wrong so next time they do it safely.

Quietgirl what you did was wrong put you did what you throught was right at the time, please do not be put off driving on motorways they usally safer that your own street,
the next time you go down a slip road to jion a motorway ,look to your right to see whats on the motorway,speed up or down to there speed and fall in behind or in front of them ,if you go infont of them your should be going sighly faster than them so they do not have to slow down or brake for you ,
remember a slip road is a give way so no right of way when you join the motorway,some will move put most will not or cannnot
if you are worried about motorways take a few more lesson with the driving school beause they will show you motorway driving the right way and then you can tell me and every one else how to do it:rolleyes: